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Hi there! I'm Studyfin, your history tutor. Today we are going to explore how the world became connected between 1450 and 1750!
During the Age of Exploration, European nations started sailing across the oceans. They wanted to find new trade routes to Asia, spread their religion, and gain wealth and power. We call these main causes the 'Three Gs': Gold, God, and Glory.
Let's analyze the first cause: Gold. European merchants wanted spices and silk from Asia, but overland routes were dangerous and expensive. By finding a sea route, countries like Portugal and Spain could trade directly and make huge profits.
When Christopher Columbus reached the Americas in 1492, it began the Columbian Exchange. This was the massive transfer of plants, animals, culture, and even diseases between the Eastern and Western hemispheres.
The exchange had positive and negative impacts. Potatoes and corn from the Americas boosted Europe's population. However, European diseases like smallpox devastated Native American populations, who had no immunity to them.
Analyze the causes of European expansion using historical clues. A historian reads a 1500s Spanish document. The writer states: 'We came here to serve God and His Majesty, and also to get rich.' Identify which causes of expansion are shown here.
- Read the quote carefully to find key goals: 'serve God', 'serve His Majesty', and 'get rich'.
- Connect 'serve God' to the religious cause: spreading Christianity (God).
- Connect 'serve His Majesty' to the political cause: gaining power and land for the King (Glory).
- Connect 'get rich' to the economic cause: acquiring gold, silver, and trading routes (Gold).
- Conclude that this document directly proves that Gold, God, and Glory were active, real-life motivators for early explorers.
